Bone marrow donor office opens in uMhlanga
Donors searches are done both locally and internationally through SABMR's network of physicians in South Africa and over 70 registries worldwide.
DURBAN now boasts its own South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) branch, located in uMhlanga.
The office opened recently and is responsible for not only sourcing bone marrow donors for those suffering with immune and blood disorders, but for recruiting new donors too.
Kapil Premchand, the sustainability and donor recruitment coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal said the organisation’s single mission was to save lives.
“For thousands of people with leukaemia and other blood and immune disorders, their only chance at surviving is a bone marrow transplant,” said Premchand.
“Some patients have a compatible family member but others rely on stranger to save their lives,” he added. That’s where the SAMBR comes in.
“We are an accredited member of the World Marrow Donor Association and for 30 years we have been connecting patients with their bone marrow match. We also provide support to patients and their loved ones throughout the entire process. We work tirelessly to ensure every patient needing a transplant has hope to find a match,” he said.
“We work behind the scenes so that patients can focus on fighting for their lives,” said Premchand.
So what is bone marrow and what does a donation entail?
“This is the tissue in the body where blood cells are produced. These blood cells are critical to the immune system as they carry oxygen, fight infection and prevent bleeding,” he said.
“A transplant replaces a patient’s diseased bone marrow stem cells so that the patient can start producing healthy blood,” he added. The process of donating bone marrow is simple.
“When people hear the words bone marrow donation, they think of an invasive procedure but it is quite the opposite. It is similar to a platelet or blood donation, but the duration is longer and you will be under surveillance in a hospital as a precaution. Donors are given a growth factor to stimulate production of stem cells the week prior and during the donating procedure,” said Premchand.
There have been no complications during the procedure to date.
The only symptom a donor feels following the donation is fatigue and flu-like symptoms.
Becoming a donor is also a simple procedure that is free of charge.
The SABMR in uMhlanga can courier a cheek swab kit at no expense to you. All the instructions are included in the kit. A courier will also collect the kit from you once you’ve completed the test.
Alternatively, you can visit the SABMR office at Unit 306, Gateview Office Park, Umhlanga. For more information call 072 7785 670 or 072 794 9316.
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